After conducting thorough mosquito surveillance, Iowa State entomologists have concluded that the two species typically thought to carry the Zika virus are not present in Iowa.

Beginning May 3, 2016, the Iowa State Medical Entomology Laboratory began trapping mosquitos throughout several counties. Five months later, it wrapped up its trapping, ultimately catching nearly 176,000 mosquitoes.

Ryan Smith, assistant professor of entomology, said that even though they’re not here now, there’s no real way to prevent these two species from getting in.

“When you go outside in the summer, just put some repellent on,” Smith said, regarding how to decrease chances of being bitten by a mosquito.

Although neither species have been recorded in Iowa, the laboratory added surveillance in southern Iowa counties and plans to do so in eastern counties as well because the species have been found in Missouri and Illinois.

As recently as Jan. 5, 2017, the Center for Disease Control has labeled Brownsville, Texas, as a “Zika Cautionary Area” and Miami-Dade County, Florida, as having “Active Zika Virus Transmission” based on the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) report. 

Texas and Florida are also the only states to report locally-acquired cases of the Zika virus, rather than travel-associated cases.

WHO also concluded that Zika continues to spread geographically and to remain on high alert despite a declining number of cases in some countries.

More of a concern to Smith, however, is the presence of the West Nile virus but lack of discussion by the community.

“Zika has captured most of the media attention,” Smith said, “but I don’t want people to forget that West Nile is still here and still active.”

Mosquitos were trapped in several counties across the state of Iowa before being divided into ‘pools,’ which divide mosquitoes by when and where they were caught, as well as their species.

In 2016, the number of pools that contained the West Nile virus was 43 — up from the 17 pools that tested positive in 2015. This is the second highest total the medical entomology laboratory has ever identified. 

The amount of human cases also more than doubled between 2015 and 2016, going from 14 to 37. 

Smith explained that ever couple of years, there is an increase in the number of West Nile virus cases, but that there’s no explanation why yet. The outbreaks do coincide with high temperatures and drought conditions.

He urges people to keep West Nile on their radar as a real threat.